On Friday, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama departed from Dharamshala and headed to Delhi. From Delhi, he will travel to Switzerland and then to the United States for knee surgery. Many Tibetans gathered at Kangra Airport to wish him a safe journey and good health. The streets were also filled with Tibetans and devotees paying their respects to the revered leader.
The Dalai Lama will stay in Delhi today before flying to Switzerland. He is scheduled to leave for the United States on June 23. His trip is mainly for medical reasons, specifically for surgery on his knee.
Key leaders from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) came to the Dalai Lama’s official residence to see him off. This group included Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Tibetan Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok, DIIR Kalon Norzin Dolma, Election and Public Service Commissioner Wangdu Tsering Pesur, members of the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, and various secretaries from CTA departments and offices.
Earlier in the week, a bipartisan US Congressional delegation visited the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. The delegation was led by Congressman Michael McCaul and included former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with US Representatives Gregory Meeks, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Nicole Malliotakis, Ami Bera, and Jim McGovern.
Nancy Pelosi reaffirmed the US Congress’s support for the Tibetan people and criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting that the Dalai Lama’s legacy will outlast his.
The US Congress recently passed a bill urging Beijing to re-engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders. The aim is to peacefully resolve disputes over Tibet’s status and governance. This bill now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.
The visit of the US delegation and the passing of this bill underscore the strong support for Tibet from the US Congress.
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